The Feline Liver Care Guide

Thank you for choosing Meowsy. This guide is general information for cat owners and does not replace advice from your veterinarian.

1. What the liver does

Your cat's liver processes nutrients from every meal, makes bile for fat digestion, stores energy and vitamins, and clears waste products and many medicines from the blood. It has a large reserve, which is why problems often show late.

2. Never let a cat stop eating

Cats are unusual: when they stop eating, especially overweight cats, fat can build up in the liver quickly. If your cat eats little or nothing for more than 24 hours, call your vet. Do not wait to see if it passes, and never put a cat on a crash diet.

3. Keep weight steady

Aim for slow, vet-guided weight loss if your cat is overweight. Weigh monthly on the same scale and write it down. Unplanned weight loss is as important to report as weight gain.

4. Feed a complete diet, consistently

Use a complete and balanced cat food suited to your cat's life stage. Change foods gradually over 7 to 10 days. Treats and supplements should sit on top of a complete diet, not replace it.

5. Water, always

Offer several bowls away from the litter tray, try a fountain, and include wet food if your cat drinks little.

6. Household hazards

Keep these away from cats: paracetamol (acetaminophen) and other human painkillers, lilies, essential oils and diffusers, xylitol, mouldy food, and any medicine not prescribed for that cat. If you suspect your cat has swallowed something, call your vet or a poison line immediately.

7. Signs that need a vet

Yellow tint to the gums, ears or whites of the eyes; not eating; repeated vomiting; marked tiredness; a swollen belly; dark urine or pale stools; drinking far more than usual; unexplained weight loss.